Made in India: Converting machines from Naph Graphics

Naph Graphics has a team of qualified engineers who have been in the industry for the last 22 years. Traditionally in the manufacturing of web offset printing presses, the company recently entered the field of packaging industry with the addition of a new business vertical of manufacturing converting machines.

Naph Graphics manufactures four converting machines for the flexible packaging industry, all of which are equipped with the latest technology. These are Slitline slitter-rewinder; Inspectline inspection-rewinder; Docline doctor-rewinder and Delam separator-rewinder.

“The products are for flexible packaging material manufacturers and suppliers. They are well-suited for all types of films, paper, foil and laminates,” Mohit Bansal, assistant director, marketing, Naph Graphics, says.

The company introduced the Slitline slitter-rewinder at PackPlus Delhi in 2016. Thereafter, it launched Inspectline inspection-rewinder and Docline doctor-rewinder machines at PackPlus Delhi in 2019. The Delam separator machine was launched in 2020. “We couldn’t really launch it due to the pandemic, but the machine is running at the customer’s end smoothly,” Bansal says.

The Slitline is now available in two speeds — 350-mpm and 450-mpm. The company will soon launch a new machine with 600-mpm.

The Inspectline is available in two speeds — 350 mpm and 450 mpm while Docline is available at a speed of 350 mpm.

The technology
The Slitline slitter-rewinder is designed to divide a web of bigger width into desired smaller widths. The Inspectline inspection-rewinder, as the name suggests, is used for inspection of a printed web, which helps in saving waste. On the other hand, the Docline doctor-rewinder is a smaller version of the inspection machine, which can carry out all the necessary inspections on a small width up to 500-mm. the Delam separator is a multi-purpose machine which can inspect the web as well as can separate poly and paper (usually used in firms where holography is transferred from poly to paper).

Bansal says the machines come with cast iron framing structures. “Usually, companies offer machines in mild steel. However, Naph offers cast iron structure. Cast iron has better compressive strength than mild steel. Thus, it has greater resistance against breaking under compression,” he adds. This also makes the machines quite durable and ideal for rugged use. They do not show signs of wear and tear easily. Also, cast iron has a good damping property which absorbs the vibrations.

The machines also use pneumatics from either SMC or Festo, which are the German brands and are the best in the industry. The company uses another German brand Siemens for the drives. The electrical panel and automation are done by companies like Erhardt+Leimer from Germany and SAAPL from India. “Both of them are trusted and best in such automations. Both have good service teams that are available on a call pan-India,”
Bansal explains.

The application
While the Indian market is usually price sensitive and price cautious, Bansal argues that Naph’s machines offer value for money for its customer base. “Also, we are dealing with customers who look for quality and perfection and not just the price. Our customers want machines to be the best fit as per price and features offered,” he says.

Naph doesn’t export these machines, but Bansal says it has a good customer base in the country. “We have received repeat orders from companies like Svam Packaging, Sati Polyplast, Vardhamaan Polyfilms, Spack Laminators, Kuwer Industries, among others,” he says.

He says for machines like these, customers usually look for value for money and the service backup provided by the seller.

Giving an example of how the customers are using the machines, Bansal says, “One of our clients insisted on incorporating his batch coding printer on our doctoring machine and we did that for the customer. Also, a customer using our separator machine insisted on the inspection system and other features on the machine and we did the same. Thus, we try to accommodate all the features requested by the customer and yes, there are times when we have to say no to our clients if we feel it will hamper the productivity of the machine.”

The USP
Bansal says the USPs of the products are cast iron framing structure; operator friendliness; best-in-class brand and features, value for money and service support.

He says the products from Naph are easy-to-use and operator-friendly. Even the software incorporated is easy-to-use and is understood by all operators. “We even train the operators during trials and installations. Also, our machines are well spaced out, thus enabling operators to see through easily. Besides, all safety factors for the operators are taken into consideration. One can find all the necessary switches at the right place,” Bansal explains.

All the machines come with a year-long warranty period. Bansal says the product doesn’t require much service support if preventive maintenance is carried out at regular intervals. “But if service is required, our engineers are always available on call or if required, we send the person to the customer premises. All the service and support are provided from our Noida factory,” he said.
Flexography is in demand these days and Bansal hopes offset will soon be a part of this industry.